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ReGENEration Appeal

ReGENEration Appeal | Sheep & Goat Semen Collection | Horse & Pony Semen Collection

Sheep & Goat Semen Collection

The Foot and Mouth epidemic of 2001 made us all realise that more needed to be done to conserve the genetic resources of our rare breeds. If live animal numbers were reduced to an unsustainable level by disease, then semen collected as part of this project could be used to save that breed from extinction.

Semen CollectionThe aim of the RBST semen collection project is to collect from 25 unrelated rams of each breed, to represent the widest genetic diversity available in the current population.

Of the semen collected, there are 3 different uses:

  • 55% goes into a permanent National Archive stored by the RBST
  • 30% is to be stored for use in Conservation Breeding Programmes
  • 15% will be available to YOU the owner and stored, free of charge by the RBST.

More than 25 rams need to be volunteered, as some may be related, and some may not produce viable semen. Transport arrangements are flexible, if you want to take the ram to the collection centre a mileage rate is available, alternatively it may be possible for collection to be arranged.

If you are interested in joining the project, there is a simple way to begin:

Pass your details onto your breed society or directly to the RBST. Phone for an information pack, which includes an application form. We can take it from there!

For more information please contact Claire Barber or Dawn Teverson on 024 7669 8762 or email them here.